Iron Maiden’s Tour Plane Upcycled into 66.66 Collectible Tags
From Heavy Metal to Heavy Metal
“Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter” may be one of Iron Maiden’s most infamous songs, but when it comes to their legendary Boeing 747-400 tour plane, the slaughter is giving way to something far more creative: rebirth.
In a fascinating twist that perfectly embodies the band’s larger-than-life presence, the iconic Ed Force One—which carried the British heavy metal legends around the world during their 2016 Book of Souls tour—is finding new life in the pockets of fans worldwide.
A Plane with a Personality
For the uninitiated, Ed Force One wasn’t just any airplane. Named after “Eddie,” the band’s zombie-like mascot who adorned its tail fin, this 230-foot behemoth became almost as much of a celebrity as the band members themselves. Piloted by lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson (yes, the frontman is also a licensed commercial pilot), the plane embodied Iron Maiden’s go-big-or-go-home ethos.
According to planespotters.net, the aircraft was originally delivered to Air France in 2003 under the registration F-GITH, before going to Air Atlanta Icelandic in 2015 as TF-AAK. It also did a brief stint with Saudi Arabia Airlines before eventually being withdrawn from use in 2022 and broken up at Cotswold Airport in the UK in 2024.
Bruce Dickinson, whose passion for aviation is well-documented, flew Ed Force One himself during the tour. In a press release, he paid tribute to the aircraft: “She always behaved like the Queen of the Skies that the 747 will always be. There will never be another to occupy her throne. The power, the noise of those 4 engines, the featherlight touchdowns (not my fault — blame good design) and her airborne elegance put the 747 in a unique category.”
While most bands rent tour buses, Iron Maiden customized a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet. Because why not?
From the Skies to Your Keychain
Now, German company Aviationtag has stepped in to ensure Ed Force One’s legacy continues long after its final flight. The company, which specializes in upcycling scrapped aircraft into collectible tags, has created a limited series from the plane’s fuselage.
“To create color variations, we also incorporated material from the blue tail fin, which had up to nine layers of paint applied over time,” explains Tobia Richter, Aviationtag’s chief commercial officer. Each tag measures approximately 1.5 by 3.5 inches (35 by 88 millimeters)—small enough to use as a keychain, but significant enough to serve as a tangible piece of rock history.
The Devil’s in the Details
In a nod that for hardcore fans, these mementos retail at €66.66 (about $73)—to reference “666” from Iron Maiden’s classic hit “The Number of the Beast” duh. The attention to detail is appreciated!
Creating these collector’s items is no simple task. “After cutting the panels, we move on to cutting them into strips, punching, deburring, cleaning, laser engraving the front, engraving the back, cleaning again, attaching the ring and chain, and finally mounting the tag on the cardboard,” explains Richter. The meticulous process takes several weeks to complete, ensuring each tag meets exacting standards. Aviation enthusiasts can see the full transformation in Aviationtag’s “Making of” video.
And for the truly dedicated collectors, there’s more exciting news on the horizon. “In some areas, we even discovered gold-colored paint beneath the layers, adding an extra touch of uniqueness to this edition,” Richter reveals. These special gold versions will be released at a later date, giving fans something additional to look forward to.
Limited Edition, Unlimited Legacy
While a Boeing 747-400 could theoretically yield up to 100,000 tags, Aviationtag prefers exclusivity over mass production. “We want to keep offering our fans and collectors new aircraft from different airlines, rather than making massive editions from just one plane,” Richter explains. “That’s why we prefer smaller, exclusive editions from a wider variety of aircraft, ensuring each tag remains truly special.”
This approach aligns perfectly with Iron Maiden’s own ethos—creating something memorable, distinctive, and worth treasuring.
More Than Just Metal
Since 2006, Aviationtag has been transforming aviation scrap into collector’s items, working with everything from commercial Airbus A380s to historical aircraft like the DC-3 “candy bomber.” But there’s something particularly poetic about a heavy metal band’s plane being literally transformed into metal keepsakes.
For Iron Maiden fans, these tags represent more than just a cool collectible. They’re tangible connections to the thunderous concerts, the global community, and the larger-than-life experience that is Iron Maiden. In a digital age where experiences feel increasingly ephemeral, having a piece of Ed Force One in your pocket offers something refreshingly concrete.
The Final Flight
While Ed Force One may never again soar through the skies with Eddie grinning menacingly from its tail, these tags ensure its spirit lives on. In the hands of fans worldwide, fragments of this legendary aircraft will continue to travel—perhaps not at 500 miles per hour, but carrying with them stories, memories, and the unmistakable spirit of Iron Maiden.
As the band might say, you can’t kill rock and roll. And thanks to Aviationtag, you can’t completely ground Ed Force One either.
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